Plants of South Eastern New South Wales
Eucalyptus recurva
Common name
Mongarlowe mallee
Family
Myrtaceae
Where found
Low heath and in some cases at the margins of the heath and adjacent low woodland. The total known population of this species is only five individuals in three locations. Tablelands between Bungonia State Conservation Area and north east of Braidwood near Mongarlowe.
Notes
Mallee to 4 m tall. Bark smooth throughout, shedding in short ribbons. Juvenile leaves always stalkless and opposite each other, 1-3.2 cm long, 4-8 mm wide, glossy, green. Adult leaves not formed. The main distinguishing character is its leaf tips that are conspicuously curved back. Flowers white, with 0 petals. Flower clusters 3-flowered. Mature flower buds 4–5 mm long, caps shorter than the base. Flowers Summer. Gumnuts 4-6 mm in diameter. Gumnuts that have dropped their seed have protruding valves or valves that are not very noticeable.
It does not seem to be highly self-fertile or inter-fertile with other members of the same species. Seedlings are often hybrids with various compatible local species. Seedlings raised from Eucalyptus recurva show considerable variation in juvenile leaf shape suggesting hybridisation with nearby species, probably with Eucalyptus aggregata and Eucalyptus mannifera.
Critically endangered Australia. Critically endangered NSW. Provisions of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 No 63 relating to the protection of protected plants generally also apply to plants that are a threatened species.
NSW Threatened Species profile: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10310 (accessed 21 April 2021)
PlantNET description: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eucalyptus~recurva (accessed 21 April 2021)
EUCLID description: https://apps.lucidcentral.org/euclid/text/entities/eucalyptus_recurva.htm (accessed 21 April 2021)
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